Buckle.



No. 657,577. Patnted Sept. l l, I900.

. J. B. SMITH.

B U 0 K LE.

(Application filed m. 23, 1900) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

JOSEPH RICHARD SMITH, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE -WATERBURY BUTTON COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE. V

BUCKLE;

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters 1 atent N0. 657,577, dated September 11, 1900.

Applieatioh filed March 23,1900. Serial No. 9,833- (No model.)

they are apt to tear the material passing through them and thatthey are either bulky or else frail.

The object of my invention is to obviate these and certain other objections and produce a buckle which shall not cut or tear the material nor bring a strain upon it between sharp edges and which may be of sheet metal and of a minimum thickness consistent with strength to resist the strain for which it is constructed.

The invention is of such a nature that it will be best understood by an immediate description of one of the preferred embodiments of it as illustrated in the accompanying drawin gs.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the buckle in use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the buckle. Fig. 3 is a central section. section showing the buckle open to receive or allow the adjustment of the material.

In the figures accompanying this specification the part lettered b is the frame, and the part lettered c the lever or tongue. The respective members of the buckle are preferably formed from sheet metal, and the capability of making the buckle out of sheet metal is one of the important features of the invention. The sides I)" lie vertically or, in other words, at right angles to the plane of the cross-pieces b b'. The tongue or lever member consists of an integral piece of the sheet metal having an upturned lip or edge to cooperate with the downturned lip or edge of the frame cross-piece b in holding the cloth or other material for which the buckle is used. The cross-piece c of the lever is provided for attaching the material, as seen in Fig. 4: is a central Fig. 4. The side flanges c" stiffen the lever and are slightly cut away beneath the crosspiece 17' of the frame. This allows the crosspiece b to be pressed down nearly flush with the surface of the lever, the fabric or other material being correspondingly depressed into the open space in the lever member beneath the cross-piece. The lever has also the two integral lugs or ears 0", which pivot in apertures in the flanges or sides 1). Such a buckle lies very flatly against the fabric or material, as shown in Fig. 1. Also the side flanges 19 of the frame and those a" of the lever overlie each other neatly and contribute great strength and stiffness without materi ally thickening the buckle, as they lie outside the limits of the fabric in the buckle. Furthermore, when the buckle is open, as in Fig. 4, very great freedom is afforded for the insertion or the withdrawal of the fabric. This is the best form of the invention known to me.

Without attempting to enumerate modifications, I claim, and desire to protect as the characteristic features, the following points:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a lever buckle, composed of a frame and a lever, the material-holding edge of the lever being bent upward and the cooperating edge of the frame being bent downward, substantially as set forth.

2. A buckle, consisting solely of a lever member having an upturned lip or edge for engagingand holding the fabric or material, an opening for attaching the material and pivotal ears or lugs, and a frame member having a cross-piece with a downturned lip or edge cooperating with the said upturned lip or edge, another cross-piece, and sides in which the said ears or lugs are centered, substantially as set forth.

3. A buckle, consisting solely of a lever member having an upturned lip or edge for engaging and holding the fabric or material,

an opening for attaching the material and pivotal ears or lugs, and a frame member having a cross-piece with a downturned lip or edge cooperating with the said upturned lip or edge, another cross-piece, and sides in which the said ears or lugs are centered, the said sides of the frame-member lying in planes at right angles to the plane of the cross-pieces, substantially as set forth. 7 I 1 4. A buckle, consisting solely of a lever member-having an upturned lip or edge for engaging and holding the fabric or material,

an opening forattaching themateri'al" and pivotal ears or lugs, and, a frame member having a cross-piece with a down-turned lip-= or edge cooperating with the said upturned lip or edge, another cross-piece, and sides which the said earsor lugs are centered, the

said sides of the frame memberlying in planes at right angles to the plane of thecrosswpieees, and the said lever member having stiffening sides or flanges lying Within and parallel to 5 the sides of the said frame member, substantia-lly as set forth.

5. A buckle consisting solely of a lever member of sheet material having pivotal lugs or ears, an opening for attaching the material, and stiffening side flanges, and a frame member having two cross-pieces united by 'side'fianges which receive-the said lugs or ears, the two members fitting onewithin and parallel with the other, and one of the crosspieces b' adapted to lie above or within the said opening for attaching the material, so as to reduce the bulkiness 0f the buckle when in use, substantially as set forth.

Signed this 20th day'of March, 1900, atWa- 30 A terbur-y, Connection JOSEPH RICHARD SMITH.

Witnesses:

. NATH. R'BRo soN,

' A; 0.. MINTIE; 

